SUNY Corning Community College has named Chris Karam and Bill Casbolt as the next coaches for the Red Barons baseball program.
Chris comes to the SUNY CCC from Elmira College where he served as the pitching coach for the past four seasons. During that time, Coach Karam's pitchers earned a multitude of school, conference, and Division III honors; Coach Karam was also a member of the 2017 Empire Eight Conference Coaching Staff of the Year. Karam helped facilitate the first Elmira College pitcher to enter and compete in the prestigious Northwoods Collegiate Baseball League and he currently has three former players who compete in professional baseball leagues. Coach Chris Karam is a 1985 SUNY Corning Community College graduate, where he was a member of the Red Barons baseball team, he is also a 22-year military veteran and a cancer survivor. Currently, Chris is the Vice President of Fagan Engineers in Elmira, NY and also serves as the Deputy Mayor in Corning, NY where he lives with his wife Kim.
Chris had this to say about becoming the next manager of the Red Barons "This is a perfect opportunity for the SUNY Corning Community College baseball porgram and myself. Between the abundance of talented student-athletes in the area and the amazing facilities at SUNY CCC, there is every reason for the program to be successful moving forward and on a long term basis." Karam also added "...The coaching staff's objective is to assist and guide our players in achieving their academic, career, and baseball goals. In the upcoming months the baseball program will work to build a productive and positive relationship throughout the community and especially with the local youth and high school programs."
Director of Athletics Isaac Bushey addressed the hiring by stating, "Coach Chris Karam and Bill Casbolt came in with an idea and vision of how they wanted to mold our baseball program. Their passion and energy for coaching as well as developing our student-athletes is most impressive and I am very excited for them, the team, and our athletic department under their supervision."
Bill Casbolt will serve as the pitching coach for SUNY CCC, he also served in the same capacity at Elmira College for two plus seasons and was a member of the Purple Eagles 2017 Empire Eight Conference Coaching Staff of the Year. During his playing days, Bill attended Sweet Home High School in Buffalo and was a NYS Section 6 All-Star. Coach Casbolt played his college baseball at the University of Buffalo, where he still holds virtually every pitching record (wins, saves, appearances, strike outs). After his outstanding performance as a Buffalo Bull, Casbolt was drafted by the Kansas City Royals and spent four years pitching in their organization. He quickly worked his way up from rookie ball to AAA, spending spring training with the Royals in 1979. Casbolt's professional career earned run average was 2.31. Coach Casbolt recently retired after a career in sales and marketing, he lives in Horseheads, NY with his wife Julie.
Jack Donnelly will serve as an assistant coach primarily working with the infield and catchers. He was a member of the Elmira College Baseball team for the past four years. Jack was a team captain and key contributor in the locker room despite battling persistent knee injuries. Jack was respected as a role model on and off the field and was named Empire Eight Conference Sportsman of the Year in 2019. Jack comes to Corning from Cooperstown, NY where he was a multi-sport athlete and excelled at baseball. Donnelly is currently a History Teacher at the Alternative School for Math & Science (ASMS) in Corning, NY. Jack will also continue to pursue his graduate degree and coaching aspirations.